Armed groups linked to the Syrian government are carrying out attacks near the Euphrates River, according to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
“The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Tuesday that two of its fighters were injured in an explosion caused by a suicide drone in the countryside of Aleppo, northern Syria, during what it described as a humanitarian mission to assist wounded civilians,” North Press Agency, a Syrian news agency that is considered close to the SDF in eastern Syria, reported.
“Two of our fighters were injured with varying degrees of wounds this afternoon as a result of the explosion of a suicide drone belonging to factions affiliated with the Damascus government,” the SDF was quoted as saying.
“The drone directly targeted them while they were carrying out their humanitarian duty of evacuating and providing medical assistance to civilians wounded by shelling conducted by those same factions on villages and populated areas in the vicinity of Deir Hafir, eastern Aleppo province,” the SDF said.
This is a serious incident and is part of a number of clashes over the last year between SDF fighters and groups backed by the new government in Damascus.
SDF claims members hit by suicide drone
In March 2024, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi flew to Damascus in coordination with US Central Command and agreed to integrate the SDF into the new Syrian security forces. The efforts have stalled.
“Targeting medical evacuation teams and aid points constitutes a highly dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms,” North Press Agency quoted the SDF as saying. “The Damascus government bears full responsibility for this escalation and its consequences, as well as for any direct threat to the security of the region and the lives of civilians.”
“Our forces emphasize that they will continue to fulfill their duty to protect civilians and provide humanitarian assistance despite deliberate attempts to target them, while reserving their legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend their forces and areas, as required by the circumstances,” the SDF said.
The ongoing clashes began on December 15.
“Factions affiliated with the Damascus government are shelling the villages of Haj Hussein and Sheikh Mahshi, in addition to the Syriatel Hill in the vicinity of Tishreen Dam, using artillery and heavy weapons,” the SDF said at the time. “This constitutes a dangerous escalation, for which the Damascus government bears full responsibility, as it poses a direct threat to the security of the area, the lives of civilians, and vital infrastructure.”
Tishreen Dam is an important site on the Euphrates River about 90 kilometers east of Aleppo. The SDF, which controls the eastern side of the river, has been attacked many times by groups linked to Damascus or proxies backed by Turkey. The chaotic security situation means it’s hard to know who the perpetrators are.
Ankara has long accused the SDF of being “terrorists” and claims it is linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ankara wants the SDF to disband and integrate with Damascus and its security forces.
Ankara is also trying to work toward peace deals with the PKK, however, and this has reduced some tensions in recent months.
The attacks on the SDF took place a few days after two US soldiers and an interpreter were killed near Palmyra while the Americans were working with the new Syrian security forces. There also has been a slight rise in ISIS threats in Syria.